Vikings' McCarthy aims 'upward' as Murray's arrival creates another QB competition, friendly or not

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The combination of skills and experience Kyler Murray carried with him to the Minnesota Vikings has made him their presumptive starting quarterback this upcoming season, even if the coaching staff declared an open competition for the job with J.J. McCarthy.

In his first public comments since Murray was cut by the starting-over Arizona Cardinals and signed with the eager-to-contend Vikings, McCarthy sounded as though he understood the situation but did not necessarily appreciate it.

“Look, the organization made a decision that they feel like is going to improve the depth and the quality of the room,” McCarthy said Wednesday after the first offseason practice session the team opened to reporters.

“All I’m thinking about is continuing the upward trajectory that I set for myself last season — that last quarter of the season — and continuing to be the best version of me every single day.”

Asked directly if he was disappointed that the Vikings acquired Murray, McCarthy said, “Then I would be disappointed if the rain fell. That’s out of my control. At the end of the day, I’ve just got to focus on what I can do to be the best quarterback for this football team.”

As for his nascent relationship with Murray, McCarthy said there's no awkwardness between them but, well, sure didn't sound warm about it in his terse response.

“It’s just like two guys in a classroom. He sits on one side. I sit on the other side. And it’s the coaches responsibility to teach us and coach us,” McCarthy said.

Murray, for his part, didn't hesitate to speak highly of the working arrangement, which is undoubtedly easier to do as an eighth-year player in the NFL with multiple standout seasons on his resume. Murray said McCarthy has been “overly” receptive to his input as a veteran with 87 starts.

“We’re both competitors. I know we both want what’s best for the team,” Murray said. “He’s always communicating, asking questions, stuff like that, so it’s been good.”

Murray has deftly dodged any discussion of depth chart expectation. Even with all of the assets the Vikings offer — from top-notch facilities to a quarterback-friendly head coach in Kevin O'Connell to star wide receiver Justin Jefferson — he likely wouldn't have picked Minnesota on a one-year minimum-salary contract if he didn't think he'd be the starter. Whether the job was privately promised to him or not hardly matters.

“My confidence is unshakeable. That’s how I feel about myself," Murray said. "Regardless of what happens day to day, I know the next day I’m coming out here giving my best effort.”

McCarthy declined to specify whether he's made any changes to his throwing mechanics, after being dogged by erratic performances during his injury-impacted rocky debut. He has spent plenty of time since the offseason began, however, working on the field with Jefferson.

“Just building those on-time and on-rhythm passes for each concept and each route,” McCarthy said. “It’s just tremendous to be around that guy every single day.”

When Vikings players reconvened last month to begin the formal offseason training program, Jefferson spoke candidly to reporters about his excitement over Murray's arrival — and his expectation for McCarthy’s improvement.

“It’s good to get some good talent in that room to kind of give a little spark in that room, to see a competitive edge from those guys to lock in and do what we’re expecting them to do, which is to come in and to be that guy," said Jefferson, the two-time All-Pro who has entered his seventh year in the NFL. “We have great talent in that room, especially for J.J. to get that spark in him and for Kyler to come from Arizona and continue that spark.”

Assuming Murray wins the job this season, his mobility ought to open up more space for Jefferson down the field.

“Definitely looking forward to his speed, his quickness, his arm strength that he’s shown countless times over the years,” Jefferson said. “For J.J., somebody into that room with that type of ability, that type of talent, he’s got to step it up a little bit. So it’s good for him to feel that type of pressure and to really lock in a little bit and say, ‘It’s either now, or I’m going to take that backseat again.'”

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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray (1) stands on the field during an NFL football practice Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Eagan, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kyler Murray talks to reporters after an NFL football practice Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Eagan, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy talks to reporters after an NFL football practice Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Eagan, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks J.J. McCarthy (9), and Kyler Murray (1) train during an NFL football practice Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Eagan, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Vikings quarterbacks Kyler Murray, front, and J.J. McCarthy (9) train during an NFL football practice Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Eagan, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Journeyman quarterback Gardner Minshew dropped back a few steps and then flipped a quick pass to rookie first-round pick Jeremiyah Love, who was cutting across the back of the end zone.

The Arizona Cardinals expect Love to catch those same touchdown passes during the regular season.

In a more surprising development, it might be Minshew who will be throwing them.

The 30-year-old Minshew has had an opportunistic streak over a seven-year NFL career, taking advantage of injuries and other circumstances to make 47 career starts for five different teams.

Now in the desert, he's got another chance to earn playing time, joining a rebuilding franchise in its first season under coach Mike LaFleur.

“With every room you step in, you’ve got to go in and earn the respect of the guys,” Minshew said on Wednesday after the Cardinals' voluntary workout. “I think that’s been a fun challenge. It’s been awesome to be greeted here the way I have. It’s been awesome blending with this offense and team.”

Minshew will be competing with Jacoby Brissett, Kedon Slovis and third-round pick Carson Beck for the starting job. The 33-year-old Brissett figured to have the inside track after throwing for a career-high 3,366 yards in 12 starts last season, but he hasn't been at voluntary workouts while he seeks a restructured contract.

That's given Minshew — known for his affable, laid-back personality — a head start on learning LaFleur's offense.

“What you see from him every single day is his love of the game, love for the locker room, love for football in general,” LaFleur said. “Gardner is very confident and comfortable with who he is, just like a ton of our guys. That's really all you want of people in that locker room or people in general.”

The Cardinals finished 3-14 last season, but have multiple intriguing playmakers on offense, including All-Pro tight end Trey McBride and receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. Then there's Love, who was taken with the No. 3 overall pick out of Notre Dame in April.

Minshew was a sixth-round pick in 2019 out of Washington State, where he learned under coach Mike Leach. He had his best NFL season in 2023 when he was a Pro Bowl selection for the Indianapolis Colts after throwing for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions over 13 starts.

Minshew compared LaFleur's offense to Leach's “Air Raid” approach because it's built around making quick reads and precise throws. The quarterback first met LaFleur when he was preparing for the Senior Bowl in the pre-draft process for 2019.

The two hit it off— talking for hours about football. Seven years later, that connection helped bring them together in Arizona.

“The reason this (offense) does so well is it thrives off complementary looks and simplicity with the illusion of complexity through motions and similar formations,” Minshew said. “We really don’t do a ton off each look, but just enough to put a seed of doubt.

“The idea is we’re going to get really good at what we do. It gives the players a ton of confidence when we say ‘Hey, we’ve got these things, this is what we're going to do, it's your job to make it come to life.' I think we've got the guys to do that."

Minshew served as Patrick Mahomes' backup last season with the Kansas City Chiefs. He got a chance to play late in the season after Mahomes suffered a season-ending ACL injury, but Minshew had a left knee injury against the Tennessee Titans in his first start that ended his season.

Now he's got another chance with the Cardinals.

Whether it's as a starter or a backup, he's ready for whatever comes.

“At some point, someone’s going to better than you and they’re gonna play,” Minshew said. “At some point, you’ll be the best guy in the room and you’ll get a chance to play. All you really have is your opportunity to work and get better and enjoy it with the guys around you."

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Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride participates in the NFL football team's practice, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker (3) participates in the NFL football team's practice, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, left, head coach Mike LaFleur talk during the NFL football team's practice, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew participates in the NFL football team's practice,, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Gardner Minshew participates in the NFL football team's practice, Wednesday, May 27, 2026, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)